Spring is definitely upon us, but that doesn’t mean the ski season is over. Across the world there is always somewhere with powdery mountains to explore – it’s all about choosing the right location at the right time of year. So while a summer holiday with sun, sea and sand may be the dream of many, if you want to carry on skiing there are plenty of resort to choose from between May and September.
You may think that most of the best resorts for spring and summer skiing are in the Southern hemisphere, where it is currently winter. Undeniably there are a few locations in New Zealand, but plenty in the Northern hemisphere too. Read on for some of our top resorts for summertime skiing and boarding.
1. Whistler, Canada
Of course, our very own Whistler is top of the list. This part of Canada is blessed with good snowfall up until the end of July, so summer skiers head to Horstman Glacier on Blackcomb Mountain for the quiet season. In addition to having the slopes virtually to yourself, there’s also an array of non-skiing activities to pass the time, from bear spotting to kayaking. It’s the perfect adventure-packed vacation.
1. Hintertux, Austria
This place has some of the most guaranteed snow in Europe, and is open 365 days a year. This incredible resort boasts the steepest lift-serviced glacier in all of the Alps! There’s no better time than the summer months to head here and book a lane.
1. Wanaka Resorts, New Zealand
From June to October you can visit the impressive South island resorts of Cardrona and Treble Cone. As well as stunning terrain, these resorts are also home to an Olympic-sized half pipe and easy going trails for those not so advanced on their skis or snowboards.
1. Zermatt, Switzerland
This prominent Swiss ski resort is one of the few year-round ski resorts in the world. It’s not just the fantastic summer skiing on the glacier that draws in the crowds here – the famous Alpine resort also has an excellent apres-ski scene with a great range of restaurants and bars to help you unwind after a hard day of practice.
Skiing in summer certainly has its advantages – firstly it’s cheaper to stay and ski off season, and there’s fewer people on the slopes with no lift queues. This means you’ll manage to fit in much more skiing or boarding during your stay. Additionally, as it’s summer it tends to be sunnier and you’ll have more daylight hours for enjoying the slopes.
Don’t think skiing is just for winter – try out the summer season this year.